Despite feeling down and out after such a serious neck injury, Phil Dowson was soon given a serious reality check.

For the same week his long-time team-mate and friend Ian Peel (pictured) suffered a similar injury in training which had even more dire consequences.

"I came back from the Nuffield Hospital on the Monday after having my scan, and when I got to Kingston Park, Peely was sat in the changing room after taking a hit in training," said Dowson.

"That hit has ultimately ended his career, and even then, straight after it had happened, he had a feeling it was a really bad one.

"He went to see the same surgeon who had done my operation at Nuffield, but unfortunately there was nothing they could do in terms of getting him back playing again."

Explaining the differences between his own problem and that of Peel, he said: "His injury was a lot higher up, on the ligament at the top of the spine which attaches it to the skull, in very simple terms.

"He's actually in hospital at the moment because he's had the skull fused to the top of his spine, because the spine was basically moving about.

"That really put it into sharp perspective for myself, because like everyone else at the club I was absolutely devastated for Peely to have to retire when he was in his prime, and when it obviously meant so much for him to play for the Falcons.

"After his scan I rang him to see how he was, knowing that I was in a similar boat with a neck injury, and when he told me how bad it was I went straight round to see him. It's a lot to take in for anyone."